Chapter Four

I didn't exactly like the tone of his voice. The 'testing' sounded more like an uncomfortable physical. "And what exactly does that entail?" Nine pairs of eyes were glued to my skull; I paled considerably under my tan.

"We've already tested Sharingan's effect on you," Sasuke began, and I felt my stomach drop. When had they done this? His eyes seemed to read my expression. "…I used Sharingan to make your mind think you were sleepy when you first awoke. You don't remember this because I don't want you to."

I glared for all I was worth. "You can't just use me as some sort of lab rat when you feel it's necessary!"

Sasuke looked at me evenly, not affected by my rage at all. "I'll do whatever I think is necessary. And in case you didn't notice – you're living under my roof. My rules."

My chin upturned a fraction and I made sure that I cleared my throat as loud as I possibly could. Kiba sniggered into Anko's shoulder. "I don't have to listen to you."

He simply folded his hands in front of him, with his elbows pointed at an angle as they dug into the table, and rested his chin on his folded palms. For a second I was reminded – as if by a blinding flash – of the adolescent Sasuke from many, many, many years ago. "Yes, you do. Because you're under the direct command of the Hokage – who is your "mentor" – and she put you under my rule. If you defy me, you defy her. Simple," The Uchiha finished calmly.

I found myself at a loss for words and not because Sasuke had a point – which he did – but the utter authority in his rich baritone had my tail tucked between my legs. "So what did you find out about Sharingan's effect on me then?" I asked.

Kiba snickered again with Anko. I rolled my eyes. They must have been getting a real kick out of the whole Sasuke-shutting- me- down – in- less- than-forty-words speech.

Sasuke surveyed me. Blankly. "You should have been asleep for several days at least."

I noticed that he didn't like admitting that to me. "…And I woke up in less than two hours?" I asked, a strange feeling coursing through me now.

"Yeah," he answered. I could see that there was an underlying confusion in his eyes. "So you are what they say you are."

Kakashi surprised us all. "And what exactly is that, Sasuke?" He had removed his tiny orange book from his view which had been all but smashed against his face merely seconds ago. "…What is she?"

Sasuke sighed, his head still resting atop his folded palms. I could tell that his next words troubled him despite his cool facade. "Powerful."

***

I was scared, I realized.

For Uchiha Sasuke – the seeker of all things dominant and rare – to call me powerful…well it scared the hell out of me.

My eyes had no choice but to stare straight ahead at the craggy fissures in the ceiling of the caves as I lied down on some cool metal surface. Admittedly, I felt awkward lying down for everyone's viewing.

We were in the makeshift hospital area of the caves which was in fact nothing more than a spacious room lined with a small shelf of books on one side, and five metal cots on the other side. I could see another shelf that was presumably the medicine cabinet.

Any second now, Hinata was going to stick a needle inside my arm and take a blood sample. "Hinata?" I called, a bit unsure. I didn't hear anyone beside me.

"Yes?" Her airy voice answered. She was suddenly beside me, her white-lavender hued eyes seeing past my face and into my bloodstream.

"What's taking so long?"

She smiled. "Sasuke had to go check on…" The raven haired woman paused, as if unsure if she should say more. "…some business of his," The sudden shyness in her voice made it clear to me that she was hiding something.

I raised an eyebrow but said nothing more on the matter.

I heard footsteps approaching and I knew who it was immediately.

"Hyuuga's going to take your blood so try to not squirm everywhere, alright?" Sasuke said from somewhere beside me.

I was a freaking medic and he had the nerve to speak down on me like I was some sort of gennin? "I'll have you know that I am overly qualified to handle-" I silenced when I felt the pinch of the needle in my arm and the slow sting when she pulled it out gently but with graceful fingers.

Hinata smiled, and stored the sample in a small flask. I guess Sasuke had motioned for her to leave, because she silently gave the sample to the Uchiha and danced her way to the exit with a few strides of her feet.

Sasuke blocked my vision suddenly, his tan face looming over mine. I blinked. "Don't just stare stupidly," he commented. "Try to focus, I'm going to use Sharingan to try to compel you. Fight it."

My head started to ring – loudly. A thousand thoughts were pushing their way through my skull and it felt as if they were ricocheting in every which direction. I felt my brow scrunch in concentration and one thought in particular rang clearer than the others.

Lift my arms.

Though that thought sounded as if my conscious voice were speaking it, I knew that it wasn't mine.

Lift my arms.

The thought came again, this time much more painful. I didn't want to though. Something about my body or my mind felt very unnatural. Fire started to erupt throughout my arm almost as if the pain were compelling me to do so.

I fought it and was rewarded with utter and absolute peace.

The chaotic buzzing erupted into a fit of agony and somewhere behind all of that buzzing I heard a high keening sound.

I was screaming.

The pain stopped after another second and strong hands were helping me up from the metal examination table. "Sakura?" My eyes were wheeling around – trying to find some sort of comforting face. Kakashi, I realized was the one that called out to me.

When had he slipped into the room?

"Your fine," He reassured me over and over again. I wondered why he was being so soothing. I looked him in the face and my eyes met his mismatched red and black ones. In them – I saw my own face, panicked and streaked with tears.

A hand was placed on my shoulder and I shuddered. Sasuke squeezed my shoulder and I was forced to look at him. We looked at each other and somehow the panic was eased.

"There," was all he said and then he looked pointedly at Kakashi. The Uchiha stalked out of the room and Kakashi followed after slowly.

I was left to my own devices. Outside the room I could hear their voices waft in despite their efforts to keep their conversation concealed from me.

"…..Kakashi she resisted not only me but you too."

"…..She's strong, It was smart of Tsunade to send her here, not only because of the cure but imagine the possibilities she could hold under Madara's control. She'd make a powerful Infected."

"That's not going to happen."

"I see your taking your job of protecting her very seriously."

Their talking stopped and I tried not to breathe as loudly as I listened on. I could only catch bits and pieces of their words at a time.

"……I owe it Naruto."

"That's touching."

"….promised Naruto I would take care of her."

What? When had he promised Naruto this? Was it possible that Naruto had known of the resistance that Sasuke led here and had never told me? That didn't sound like Naruto at all. I was, or had been, his best friend.

But – Sasuke would always mean more to him than me.

"Why is her resistance to Sharingan so powerful?"

"She always had an affinity for genjutsu – we just never knew to what extent until now."

The talking stopped and I pointedly tried to look natural as they reentered the room.

Sasuke frowned and Kakashi gave me an amused- knowing look.

"What now?" I questioned. Kakashi tossed me a rag and I caught it mid air. It felt damp. I smiled gratefully at him and wiped the sweat from the apples of my cheeks and my collarbone.

They looked at one another. "Your resistance to Sharingan is strong. That's probably why the Hokage sent you here. Your blood, combined with that of a natural Sharingan user, myself, is what should complete the cure. Hyuuga's working on it right now," Sasuke answered.

I nodded to myself.

"What do we do?" I asked.

Silenced ensued, but was broken by both of their voices in complete unison. "We wait."

Sasuke turned for the door, and my eyes followed him, of their own accord of course. "Kakashi look after her while I'm gone."

Our silver-haired ex sensei crinkled his one visible eye and threw up two of his fingers in answer. I didn't know what was happening. "Where are you going?"

I was graced with his black gaze – that of which seemed almost regretful. "Feel free to tell your Hokage I left you alone while I'm gone."

I stuttered, "B-but…she told you not to leave my side. She'll be angry."

He stared, unaffected. "There's nothing she can do all the way in Fire Country and Konoha," he stated simply.

"…How long?"

"…Two days…two weeks…it doesn't matter," And he left through the door.

I looked down at my hands as a strange feeling – an emotion that I hadn't felt since some time ago – stirred in me. What was I feeling?

But I realized that for all of his pompousness and superiority - Sasuke was right. There was nothing Tsunade could do all the way from home – or my home at least, I reminded myself.

But the world out there was dangerous and that worried me. He was still my teammate, lost or not, and to lose the only remnants of Team Seven would crush me.

I realized I felt that same strange emotion again as I stared at the door left ajar slightly in his wake.

Kakashi placed a hand on my shoulder. "How do you feel, Sakura?"

How did I feel? I glanced at the open door. "Alone."

He sighed. "This is an apocalypse, what did you expect?"

To be continued.....

A/N: Whoa! Long time no see. I was taking a break from writing to catch up with school and the manga because apparently - my story isn't as AU as I thought - which some of you have pointed out to me. I promise lots of action in the future chapters as I am just getting started with this fic. But big news - during my absence I wrote the ending. It literally came out of no where and I have to say that I am absolutely in love with it. Big twist. But for those of you that are familiar with my few works - you know thats my choice style of writing.

Anyways huge thanks for staying with me and reading - Surmise loves you all!

Surmise